Unions Offer Support For Occupy MovementLabor unions have found a new ally for their long-time criticism of the country's ultra-wealthy. Around the country, Occupy Wall Street-inspired protests are drawing attention to a message unions have been advancing for years. But unions say they don't want to take over.

Income gap is the central theme of the Occupy Wall Street protests, and if you attend just about any of them around the country, you might see a group of people who are often dressed in matching t-shirts. They typically seem older than your average protester, but no less enthusiastic. NPR's Jeff Brady reports that labor unions are now finding a place in the Occupy movement.

BRADY: The man behind the microphone blames the country's wealthiest 1 percent for keeping too much for themselves, but this is not an Occupy Wall Street protest. It's not even 2011. This is AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka at a Chicago rally two years ago. You could be forgiven for thinking the message sounds similar.

DAMON SILVERS: Similar, yeah. I mean, they're identical essentially.

BRADY: Damon Silvers is policy director and special counsel at the AFL-CIO.

SILVERS: As Occupy Wall Street gathered steam it was sort of like, well, they're doing the same thing we were doing; we better be part of this.

BRADY: And while unions complain the media ignore them, the Occupy Wall Street protesters are leading newscasts and showing up on front pages. The two sides didn't immediately warm up to each other though. Cornell labor studies professor, Richard Hurd says unions had to be sure the Occupy movement was here to stay and that it would remain non-violent.

RICHARD HURD: And the protesters certainly don't want the labor movement to come in and take over their movement because they feel that they own it, they started it, they created some energy around it.

(SOUNDBITE OF PROTESTERS)

BRADY: So far the unions seem satisfied just supporting protests, like this one recently in Philadelphia. Paul Dannenfelser heads Local 1723 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

PAUL DANNENFELSER: I think we know that this is a movement led by students and we're not leading this movement as union people but we're a part of it and want to be a part of it.

(SOUNDBITE OF STREET SOUNDS)

BRADY: Downtown, in front of Philadelphia's City Hall, there are several dozen tents set up. Protester Leila Wright says unions fit in well with the Occupy movement.

LEILA WRIGHT: Like if you really understand capitalism, you understand why we're out here. You know what I mean? And I feel like the 99 percent involves a lot of people, and that includes the unions.

BRADY: Nearby, at the information tent, Stanley Joseph says unions and protesters are helping each other.

STANLEY JOSEPH: I think we're bringing attention to them and we're giving them a platform to make themselves heard. I think, my opinion, that this is what the greatest purpose; one of the greatest purposes of Occupy is to simply give people a platform to air their grievances.

BRADY: But look around the Occupy Philadelphia site on a weekday afternoon and the only sign of unions are actual signs. There are posters everywhere that read Workers rights are human rights, but no union tent or other permanent presence.

MARLENE BODNER: It would mean they'd have a table here and they would be walking around and, you know, just embedding themselves in this, you know? And they're not.

BRADY: Union leaders say they don't have the resources to staff a tent day and night. But they are opening union halls to protesters who need a place to take a shower and they're providing legal help. Across the country Occupy protests also have set up labor outreach committees to coordinate with unions. And when the next big protest happens, you can bet union members will be there. In fact, there's a one planned at Temple University this afternoon. Jeff Brady, NPR News, Philadelphia.

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